EP 2166951 A2 20100331 - ULTRASONIC ASSEMBLY WITH ADJUSTABLE FLUID LENS
Title (en)
ULTRASONIC ASSEMBLY WITH ADJUSTABLE FLUID LENS
Title (de)
ULTRASCHALLANORDNUNG MIT EINSTELLBARER FLÜSSIGKEITSLINSE
Title (fr)
ENSEMBLE À ULTRASONS AVEC LENTILLE À LIQUIDE RÉGLABLE
Publication
Application
Priority
- IB 2008052716 W 20080707
- US 94903007 P 20070711
Abstract (en)
[origin: WO2009007900A2] An ultrasonic assembly suited for attachment to a catheter, e.g. for medical treatment. The ultrasonic assembly includes an adjustable ultrasonic focus mechanism arranged in connection with the ultrasonic transducer to adjust focus of ultrasonic waves generated by the transducer. The ultrasonic focus mechanism includes a fluid focus lens with at least two fluids separated by an interface such that ultrasonic waves are substantially reflected at the interface. At least two electrodes are arranged in connection with the fluid focus lens so as to allow adjustment of the interface shape, e.g. a curvature of the interface, when a voltage is applied to the electrodes. In preferred embodiments the electrodes are arranged so as to allow adjustment of the fluid focus lens in an elevation direction as well as in a radial direction. In simple embodiments with rotational symmetric geometry with the transducer positioned in the centre of the fluid focus lens, ultrasonic waves can be focused in an annular ring. This is e.g. suitable for ablative or coagulative necrotic treatment of human tissue, e.g. for atrial fibrillation treatment. In some embodiments, the assembly has a number of separate individually adjustable fluid focus lens compartments allowing a more detailed control of the ultrasonic focus pattern.
IPC 8 full level
A61B 7/02 (2006.01)
CPC (source: EP US)
A61N 7/022 (2013.01 - EP US); G10K 11/30 (2013.01 - EP US); A61B 2017/00243 (2013.01 - EP US); A61N 2007/0056 (2013.01 - EP US)
Citation (search report)
See references of WO 2009007900A2
Designated contracting state (EPC)
AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MT NL NO PL PT RO SE SI SK TR
Designated extension state (EPC)
AL BA MK RS
DOCDB simple family (publication)
WO 2009007900 A2 20090115; WO 2009007900 A3 20090326; CN 101686830 A 20100331; CN 101686830 B 20120530; EP 2166951 A2 20100331; JP 2010533024 A 20101021; JP 4892102 B2 20120307; US 2010185126 A1 20100722; US 8475442 B2 20130702
DOCDB simple family (application)
IB 2008052716 W 20080707; CN 200880024237 A 20080707; EP 08789205 A 20080707; JP 2010515640 A 20080707; US 66330708 A 20080707